Special Back-to-School Social Studies Edition!

Today is Blumesday. Happy Blumesday. What is Blumesday? Blumesday is the much-needed holiday invented by a couple of Portland writers that celebrates the writings of Judy Blume and all the things that angsty teenage girls fret over. Reading from some of the famed tomes, such as Blubber, Forever, Deenie and the seminal Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret, will be Melanie Hutsell, Jill Soloway, Carrie Aizley, Maggie Rowe and Ronna & Beverly. M Bar, 1253 N. Vine St., Hollywood; Fri., Sept. 19, 8 p.m.; $8, plus $10 food min. (323) 856-0036.

SATURDAY, September 20

Oy vey, there are so many great Yiddish words. In the Yiddish-English dictionary, almost every entry under “S” is a good one — schmear, shicksa, shekel. And don’t get me started on the G's. Yiddishkayt, the organization that promotes Yiddish language and culture, debuts a new and original band, ¡Viva Yiddish! Project. Dance your tuchus off to this Yiddish-Latino music sensation, making its world premiere. Only in L.A., folks. Grand Performances California Plaza, 300-350 S. Grand Ave., downtown; Sat., Sept. 20, 8-10 p.m.; free. (213) 389-8880, yiddishkayt.org or grandperformances.org.

Ladies and gentlemen, Town Hall welcomes Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who has won a boatload of military awards. Come ask the admiral what’s next for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and how he thinks the presidential candidates will deal with them. The Regency Club, 10900 Wilshire Blvd., L.A.; Mon., Sept. 22, 11:30 a.m.; $70. (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org.

TUESDAY, September 23

If it’s Tuesday, it must be panel-discussion day. Architecture and Seduction: Bachelor Pads and Sex Machines is the topic that explores everything from “leisurely pleasure palaces and the bon vivant’s intimate dens of seduction, to the tantalizing, suggestive tease of retail spaces.” Plus, you’ll probably get some bitchen idea for your own den of depravity. Moderated by Norman Millar, director, Woodbury University School of Architecture. In conjunction with “Between Earth and Heaven; The Architecture of John Lautner.” Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood; Tues., Sept. 23, 7 p.m.; free. (310) 443-7000.

WEDNESDAY, September 24

Garrison Keillor once said, “Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which once you have got it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known.” If you have any idea about what that means, you must already have your ticket to An Evening with Garrison Keillor. Smothers Theatre, 24255 Pacific Coast Hwy., Malibu; Wed., Sept. 24, 8 p.m.; $65. (310) 506-4522.

THURSDAY, September 25

What did we learn this week? That if we all spoke Yiddish, read more Judy Blume books and sang Sammy Cahn songs everywhere we went, the world would be a better, more accepting place? Sit back, have a glass of wine and enjoy the Manhattan Short Film Festival, the only film festival with the mission statement: “To unite audiences around the world via the most creative short films in the world.” More than 400 entries from 42 countries were submitted, and you can see the 12 finalists. Wow. M Bar, 1253 N. Vine St., Hollywood. Thurs., Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m.; $10. (323) 856-0036.